Terence Crawford won the WBA Super-Welterweight World Title at the first time of asking when he moved up a division to face Israel Madrimov.
‘Bud’ secured a championship in his fourth weight class by beating previously undefeated Madrimov over the distance, ending an eleven-fight knockout steak but keeping his perfect record. He also picked up the WBO Interim title with the win.
Post-fight he has reiterated that he wants to move up a further two divisions to challenge 168lbs unified champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. The Mexican has refused to negotiate until his September 14 fight with Edgar Berlanga is done and dusted. Saving that, Crawford previously stated his second choice would be a unification against Sebastian Fundora, who currently holds the WBO and WBC belts after a win over Tim Tszyu.
Fundora has been in talks to face Errol Spence Jr – the man Crawford beat to become undisputed at welterweight – later this year, but the WBO has now made good on an order for him to enter talks with ‘Bud’. The pair now have 30 days to negotiate before purse bids are called. The ruling states that:
“Failure to move forward with the fight without the other party’s consent will result in forfeiture of their version of the WBO title.”
There has been no date set for Fundora to face Spence, but the champion had previously stated this was the path he was on. Whether or not that now changes or moves ahead either with a deal or without the belt remains to be seen.
